Safety astragal



July 5, 1949. A. w. CROKER ETAL 2,475,015

SAFETY ASTRAGAL Filed Jan. 2, 1945 e Sheets-Sheet 2 2 3 ARTHUE W. Gen/(2 44-1 V 40 PAUL R. ,DOEG,

INVENTORS. N ,526. 5.

ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1949. A. w. CROKER ETAL SAFETY ASTRAGAL 6 Shets-Sheet 3 w NW Filed Jan. 2, 1945 R e m N new 2 0 ME XL. 00

57M. ATTORNEY.

July 5, 1949. A. w. CROKER ETAL SAFETY ASTRAGAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. 5 M.

Filed Jan. 2, 1945 ATTORNEY.

July 5,1949. A. w. CROKER ETAL SAFETY ASTRAGAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 2, 1945 &

R mm. %m

K N R mmm (2 Wm Wm M w m E A m July 5, 1949.] A. w. CROKER ETAL 2,475,015

SAFETY ASTRAGAL Filed Jan. 2, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 A2 71/02 N (no KEY! PAUL 1 17056,

INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 5, 1949 SAFETY AS TRAGAL Arthur W. Crolzer, Valley Stream, and Paul R. Doeg, Jamaica, N. Y., assignors to The Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 2, 1945, Serial No. 571,076

4 Claims.

The astragal described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings is primarily intended to be used in connection with counterbalanced freight elevator doors in which the sections thereof move vertically away from each other in opening, and move verticall toward each other in closing. The astragal is provided for the purpose of covering the joint between the sections of the door when the door is in fully closed condition, thereby providing an obstruction to fire hazards when the door is closed.

Ordinarily, a depending steel member is rigidly secured to the lower edge of the upper door section for the above-mentioned purpose. In the manual operation of a counterbalanced door, is necessary for the operator to close the door by moving the upper section thereof downwardly by exerting a. pull on some portion thereof. As the upper section moves downwardly, the com panion lower section is moved upwardly by reason of the upper and lower sections being connected by means of chains having one end thereof secured to the upper section and extending over sheaves with the other end being secured to the upper ends of chain rods which are so: cured to and carried by the lower section ofthe door. The astragal member, being secured to the lower edge of the upper section, passes the upper edge of the lower section with a minimum of clearance being provided between the astragal and the adjacent face of the lower door section as the sections assume a closed position. Usually, a strap closing member is attached to the upper section of the door with the strap providing a means by which the operator may exert the necessary pull to close the door. At times, when closing the door, the operator may be on the opposite side of the door from the strap closer and must necessarily reach under the upper section of the door to exert the necessary pull on the strap to close the door. As the sections approach each other in coming to a closed position, the operator may still be holding to the strap closer, with the result that his hand or arm be caught between the astragal on the upper sec-' tion and the upper edge of the lower section. If a rigidly secured astragal is attached to the upper section, the operator'is in danger of becoming seriously injured by reason of the shearing effect of the astragal passing the upper edge of the lower section as the door assumes fully closed position.

In order to overcome the hazard of injury to the operator, we have provided-an as'tragal which is hingedly secured to the upper section of the 2 door and which effectively closes the space between the sections when the door is fully closed.

In order to overcome the eventualities of operators becoming injured, we have provided a hinged astragal in the most simple form and which is adapted to be used in connection with a manually operated door without any connection between the astragal and the guide rails of the door, and which provides the necessary safety features. In the use of this particular hinged astragal, it is necessary toprovide sufiicient space between the upper and lower sections of the door when in fully closed condition that there will be no crushing or bruising effect to the operators hand or arm should the same be caught by the door in its closing movement.

We have also provided a further advanced hinged astragal for use with manually operated doors wherein we have provided means in connection therewith engaging ratchets attached to or formed in the guide rails of the door with the ratchets providing means arresting the closing movement of the door sections when the astragal is swung out of its normal position by contact with an obstruction.

In order to adapt the astragal to power operated doors, we have provided means operable through connections with the hinging action of the astragal, with said means operating an electrical interlocking switch which will instantly break the electrical circuit to the motor should the astragal be hinged from its normal position. When desired, a motor reversing switch may be substituted for the interlocking switch and which provides means reversing the closing movement of the door should the astragal be hinged out of its normal position by contact with an obstruction during the closing movement of the door.

In order to prevent hinging movement or" the astragal from its normal position when the door is in its fully closed condition, we hav further provided locking pins in connection therewith, thereby preventing the passage of flames between the sections of the door, and which is in conformity with rules governing the use of doors in elevator hatchways.

An object of the invention is the provision of an astragal member hinged to and carried by a door which reduces the possibility of injury to the operator of the door as the door assumes its closed position.

A second object of the invention is the provision of an astragal member which is hingedly secured to the lower edge of the upper section of the door,

the ratchet being engageable by a pawl pivotallw secured to the upper section of the door, andwithn the astragal member being hingedly secured-tothe upper section of the door; and-gwithithflrswing ing movement of the astraaalcausing thenpawlr to engage the ratchet and immediately arrest the closing motion of the door.

A further object is the provision of an astragal hingedly secured to the upper section of a-coun-r.

terbalanced elevator door with the astragal being providedwith locking pinspreventinghingingac tion ,of the, astragal ,from rits normal position when the door-is in fully; closed condit on.

A, still further obj ectE is:- the-provisinm of, an astragal hingedly seouredto the upperfsectiomof amotor operated ounterbalanced, l vator-door, and, ,with ,means, operable -by, the swinging raction of the astragal breaking thegelectrical circuit, to hen-r tor.

Anot er: bject is; the prov sion of athinee straeell cured'tolth v pnerc i n of, armotor operated counterbalanced .el-evatordoor; andwith n w pe able y, he; vhineine ac i n-M he-a tragal reversing; the closing; motion of the door,

Other: objects; and advantages-pf; thee-invention will become fmoregapparent, in & the, course of; the following de cription, candthat which ,is newi will esp inted-w in; theanp nd dclaim he pre ferredi nd m t lsat sfa toryi means f a yina i lthefi n cation of t ecinv n ion fine practical n-ianner; is shown-tin the; accompanying six sheetsgof drawings, in which:,"

fieiilrel 11'. is, a shaft; side: leva ional; deta la t a o nte al ncedlele a rrdo n mb d i eth in: vention and with motor operatina'meamr eing provided in connection, therewith, and withithe oori a shown-in losed condition.

Figure 2, is, an; elevational detail, of the, door mil rto. th tlshown m u -e; Lemma-that the doords shown in partially:v open conditions,

Figure '3 is a ihorizontaltdetail, section taken on line ;-3.,3 ofFigure l and, showingthe, guide rails ofthe door, butwith some -of the doonaDp t-ee nances being omittedfior clarity of detail,

Figure, 4 is a partial detail. elevationtaken. atlor near the. ,center of ,the, openingandhwins:;the relation, of the ;up .per;- and ilowen-sectionsvof the doonin closed condition andiastakenjrom line 47-4 .-.of Fignre,3..

Figure 5 is a detailve'rtical sectionjtaken .online 5. 5..of Fi ure! t rou h. the low porti n: oilthe ppe ,v ct nandithe upperport on .ot, the-slower section, and w nathe h e a tra al mlthe locking pin.

Figure 6 isa partial shaftside elevation of the lower portion'of the upper-door section andshow. ing the astragal locking pin :indisengaged *con dition.

Figure 7- is a detail vertical section taken' on line '!:'l 'of Figure ,6; 1

Figure 8 is. a horizontalcdetail. section through" the astragal and the locking pin housingtas taken nvl nefi efi ot :FiEllIefl..-1.1

i ure 9 1 .aipart al.shaft'sideeeleva ionsimilar o Fi ure r mept thezlastra aliiszshownvas;bein

7 5:;- wmeanszorethe guide supportingeanglesj which swung from its normal position, and with the pawl engaging the ratchet teeth formed in the adjacent edge of the guide rail.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section taken on line |0I0 of Figure 9, and showing the position assumed by the hinged keeper when the astragal is swung from its normal position.

Figure 11 isa detailtelevation-similar to Figure 9 except thatra separateratchet member is shown instead of the ratchet teeth being formed in the edge of the guide rail, and with the separate ratchet, member being provided in connection with'door assemblies previously installed.

Figure l2jis' a=,detail horizontal section through the guidmrail and-ithe separate ratchet member, as taken ion linexl2' -I2 of Figure 11.

Figure 1,3,is.,a.\p,artial shaft side elevation taken at the opposite edge of the door from the abovedescribed Figures 3 through 12, and showing an interlocking device operable through a cam mechanismby;meansof a-cam operating arm, with the arm! being actuated by; the swinging, of: the as trag al ou-t ofits normal position, andwith the cam-operating; armcbeing shown in non-contacting; relation with the-cam;

Eigurecl iz-is a detail vertical section, taken on line I 4,---l Moi Eigurel3.

Eigure 15 is a, horizontal detail i section taken on ,lineJlie-li of Figurezld and showing the cam which is; secured to the astragal. and which actuates the cam operating arm when-:the astragal is gswung from its normal position,

Fig;ure- 16. is; 3, detail .rhorizontal .section taken on :line I S -l 6-,of;Fig1u-re=;13.

Figure- 17 .is ;a partialshaft sideelevationsimilar to; Fig-ureliieexcept with-the camoperating arm engaging-the cammem-ber.

Figure 18; is- .alpartial shaftside elevation of one, end-of the ,lower;-portion of 1 the 7 upper door section and, showing a hinged astragal in con- I16Gti0I1;th6I-8Witl'l,- butwithoutthe pawl. and ratchet;

Figures, 19-and-- 20.-vare.-. .detailvertical sections through the,,a,strag,al. andhingamembers as taken on,lines law-l 9 and -20-.-2 0, respectivelyof Figures 6 and. 18

Figurea2llist a, detaillplaniview otthe pawl member.

Figure 22 is ashaft side11 elevational detail of the -pawl: member takemfroml line-22--22 oi Figure-21.

Figure 232.,15; a? detail end view,' of the, pawl member,- taken. -from line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure2rt-isiaatopplan view-,ofthe cam operating: arm

Figure.=25, isia shaft side.-.-elevation-of.the cam operating; ,arm takeni from line -25, 25;" off Figwee-2m Figureyzfi -isa. detail .sideview of :the cam operatingarmitakenlrfrom line 26.26= of Figure 25.

Like. characters designate like. parts. through out, the :severahviews In order that itheconstructionxand: the opera-- tionqjof, theyinvention inlay be, more fully; under-- stood, .'weewi11-. nowwtakecup a detailedzdescription th'ereoi in which? thevsamel will be, more compre hensivel-vset forth Referring nova}. tor; the; drawingsin; detaiL; l designates; the-1 upper;v section 10f the door. and 2 designates gtheelowerra'section"; Each ;-.of;. the c. sectionsis adaptedzvtormoveyerticallytbetween guide rails 4, with guide shoes 3 providing means'guid-- ing the.:.d0omsections imtheirwertical movements. The-ssllidetrails areispaced, iromrlth'e shaft 'wall'. A

are usually secured to the closure frame I by means of screws 6, or by other suitable means.

In order that the upper and lower sections I and 2 may move simultaneously in opening and closing, chains 8 have one end thereof secured in chain fastening members 9 which are secured to each side of the upper section I and are located near the lower edge thereof. Each of the chains 8 extend upwardly and over respective sheaves It which are secured in a housing II and rigidly secured to the respective guide supporting angles 5. The opposite ends of the chains 8 are secured to the upper ends of respective chain rods I2, and with the chain rods being secured through an extending member I3 at the upper portion of the lower door section.

An electric motor I4 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as being provided for each of the sheaves II] for motor operation of the door. Gear teeth are provided on each of the sheaves I through which the sheaves are driven by means of a pinion formed on or secured to the motor shaft. The motors are electrically controlled through the proper electrical equipment (not shown) located at a remote point.

A flexible strap I5 is secured to the upper section of the door and provides means of closing the door should there be an interruption of current for the electric motors, or in the case of manually operated doors, the strap I5 provides means of closing the door.

From the above, it is obvious that the upper section I of the door moves upwardly in its opening movement and downwardly in its closing movement. It is likewise obvious that the lower section 2 moves downwardly in its opening movement and upwardly in its closing movement. When the sections have reached their full open position, the lower edge of the upper section I approximates the level of the lintel I6 while the upper surface of the lower section rests substantially flush with the sill I'I. Stops (not shown) are secured to the guide supporting angles 5 below the level of the sill I1 and provide means supporting the lower section of the door in its full open position for the purpose of supportin loads being trucked thereacross.

When the sections are in closed condition as shown in Figure I, a space is provided between the upper and lower sections. In order to effectively cover the space between the sections, and to comply with regulations governing the use of doors in elevator hatchways, we have provided the astragal I8 which extends substantially the full distance between the closure frame jambs and which is hingedly secured to the lower edge of the upper section of the door. The astragal I8 is hingedly secured to the upper section by means of hinges, with the leaf I9 thereof being secured to the edge of the door, and with leaves being secured to the astragal I8. The hinge leaves I9 and 20 are secured together by means of the hinge pins 2I extending therethrough, as shown more clearly in Figures 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, .13, and 18.

In order to limit the space between the upper and lower sections of the door when in fully closed condition, we have provided a channel-shaped housing 22 near each end of the upper section and with the housings 22 being secured through one leg thereof to the lower edge of the section by means of screws 23, or by other suitable means. The lower leg of the housing 22 has an aperture formed therethrough for the reception of the locking pin 24. A pin guide member 25 is secured in the housing with an aperture being formed therein and in concentric relation with the pin aperture formed through the lower leg of the housing. A rubber bumper member 40 is secured to the under side of the housing 22 to absorb shocks occurring when the doors come to the fully closed position. The bumper member also has an aperture formed therethrough for the reception of the pin member.

The lockin pin is comprised of the pin housing 24 into which is inserted the compression spring 26 and the sliding pin member 21. The sliding pin member 21 has the slot 28 formed therethrough for the reception of the retaining pin 29. The retaining pin 29 limits the upward movement of the housing 24 when the door is fully closed, and also prevents the sliding pin 21 from disengaging from its housing 24 when the door is open or partially open. Pressure of the sliding pin 21 against the Spring 26 forces the housing 24 upwardly from the position shown in Figure 7 t0 the locking position shown in Figure 5.

A keeper 3!) is provided to prevent the astragal I8 from being swung away from its normal position while the door is closed. The keeper 30 is hingedly secured to the astragal I8 with the free end thereof resting on the member 25. A pinreceiving aperture is formed through the keeper member for the reception of the upper portion of the pin housing 24 as shown in Figures 5, 7, 8, and 10. It will be noted that when the astragal is in its normal position, and when the door is closed, as shown in Figure 5, the pin housing 24 projects upwardly through the keeper and prevents the astragal I8 from being swung from its vs normal position. As soon as the door is started to open, the pin housing 24 drops to the position as shown in Figures 7 and 10 and leaving the keeper disengaged. Should the astragal meet with an obstruction in the closing movement of the door, the astragal will be swung to the approximate position as shown in Figure 10, with the keeper 3|] riding across the top face of the pin guide member 25. When the astragal assumes its normal position, the keeper 30 is returned to the position shown in Figures 7 and 8. As the door assumes its closed position the depending pin 21 contacts the upper edge of the lower section 2 and, by means of the spring 25, forces the pin housing 24 upwardly through the apertures formed through the pin guide member 25 and the keeper 30 thereby preventing the astragal from being swung from its normal position while the door is closed.

The astragal, as above described, is suitable in providing means of preventing serious injury to the operator in the manual operation of the door with sufi'icient space being provided between the two sections to prevent crushing of the operators hand or arm should the same be caught between the sections in the final closing movement of the door. The above-described astragal is easily adapted to present installations in replacing the conventional rigid type astragals and in providing the safety features thereto.

In order to further enhance the safety featues of the hinged astragal we have provided means instantly stopping the closing movement of the door should the astragal be swung from its normal position in the closing movement of the door. To accomplish this result we have provided ratchet teeth 3| in the adjacent edge of one of the guide rails 4, as more clearly shown I in Figures 4, 6, and 9. We have further provided the pivoted pawl member 32 secured in the housing 33 and secured to the lower edge of '7 ethe-upper sectl'on' l. Thev pawl is pivotally sescared in thehousing 3-3 by means ofl-the shoulder screw 34. The downwardly extending arm of .Zthe. pawl has the ratchetsengagi-ng 'end 35 formed The horizontally extending arm is :thereon.

provided with an adjusting screw 36 and a lock nut 3:1,, with the adjusting screw providing means compensating for variations in the distances between the upper section 'of the door and the adv.J'acent edge of the guide rail. When the pawl is used, a portion .38 of the astragal is extended and the upper end of the adjusting screw .36

.hears against said portion. When the :astra'gal swungfrom .its normal position the portion 38 bears downwardly on the adjusting screw and thereby pivots the. pawl 32 on the shoulder screw 234 8115. swings .thelower end .35 of the pawl into engagement with .the ratchet teeth 31., as shown in Figure 9. Engagement of the pawl with the ratchet teeth "causes the closing movement of the door to be immediately arrested. In order to disengage the pawl from engagement with the ratchet iteeth, it .is necessary to raise the upper section slightly to permit the pawl to swing free of the ratchet teeth, after. which the door may brought to the fully closed position. The spring 4| is provided to normally maintain the pawl in its disengaged position unless the pawl .is swung toward the ratchet teeth by pressure .rfrom the portion 38 of the astragal.

The ratchet teeth 3| are formed in the edge of the guide rail when it is known at the time of manufacture that the safety astragal is to be used in connection with the door. in order to provide a similar arrangement for doors already installed, we provide the separate ratchet mem ber 39 which is adapted to :be bolted or otherwise secured through the guide rail, as showin in Figures 11 .and .12. The pawl and ratchet are adaptable to either manually operated doors or :to motor operated doors.

- When motor operation is applied .to doors pro- -vided with the safety astragal, it is desirable to provide means interrupting the electric current ormeans of reversing the motors should the astragal strike an obstruction and be swung *from its normal position.

In order to provide means of interrupting the electric current, we have provided a cam assembly comprising the vertical bar 42 secured to the guide rail 4 through the bracket members 43 with a lower connecting link 44 and an upper connecting link 45. The upper link '45 has a lug :formed thereon for attachment to the adjusting screw 46, with the adjusting screw limiting the downward movement :of the cam bar: 42. Ihe adjusting screw is freely slidable through an aperture formed in the angle support 41 which .is secured to the guide rail.

vAn electric interlock or reversing switch 48 is connected in series with the motor circuit and is secured on the guide supporting angle 5 with the switch-actuating plunger 49 extending through the guide supporting angle and the guide rail, and with the roller 50 thereof bearing against the cam bar '42. In order to actuate the interlock .or reversing switch through the cam bar-42, we have provided a cam operating lever 51 whichis pivotally supported in the housing 52 on the shoulder screw .53. Aroller 5 4 is provided at the lower end of the downwardly extending arm of the cam operating lever and is adapted to 'bear against the cam bar 42' when swung from its normal position. .A' horizontal armxis formed on the cam operating lever '51 and carries roller 89 'which contacts the surface of the lever-operating cam 55. The lever-operating cam 55 is rigidly secured to and carried by the astragal 53, as

shown in Figures 13,14, 15, and 17. The leveroperating cam has a depressed surface 56 against which the roller 59 hears when the parts are in .i'iormal..;position. An incline 51 is formed adjacent the depressed surface which provides means pivoting the cam operating lever from its normal position when the astragal I8 is swung .from its normal position. The movement of the astragal I-B from its normal position causes the rollervtoride over the incline 51 onto the higher surface 58 and 'thereby swinging the cam operating lever into pressing contact with the cam bar 42, as shown in Figure'l'i.

.Movement of the cam bar '42 breaks the electrical circuit to the operating motors through the :movement of plunger '49 if an interlock is being used. 'When a reversing switch is used, movement of the cam bar by the cam operating lever causes the plunger 49 to be depressed with the action thereof operating the reversing contacts, and instantly reverses the motors and causing the movement of the door to immediately be :reversed.

The :action of the 'astragal and the locking 'pinsis theasame when used with either manually operated or motor operated doors.

.It is obvious, from the above description, that the hinged astragal may be used with equal advantage as a safety device on either manually operated doors or on motor operated doors. It is also obvious that the astragal is I adapted to both old installations and to new installations, with the use of the same materially decreasing .the eventualities of casualties in the loperation of elevators.

it .is to be understood that minor changes may be made in the several parts and in the arrangement thereof, insofar as the changes may fall within thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a counterbalanced elevator "door movable vertically between guides secured to an elevator shaft wall, an astragal hingedly secured to the upper section of the door and with the astragal being free to swing from :its normal position when the door is in non-closedcondition, an astragal locking pin car- ;ried by the upper doorsection with said locking pin being operable by contact thereof with the lower door section and engaging a keeper member carried by the astragal and locking the .astragal in fixed condition when the door is in fullyclosed condition.

22. In combination with a counterbalanced elevator door mounted between vertical guides selsuredto an elevator shaft wall, an astragal cured to an elevator shaft wall, an astragal hingedly'secured to the lower edge of the upper section of the-door, a locking pin carried by the .upper section of the door and engageable with the lower section of the door when the door sections are in closed condition, with a keeper 9 being hingedly secured to the astragal and engaging the locking pin and preventing hinged movement of the astragal when the door is in closed condition.

4. In combination with a counterbalanced elevator door mounted between vertical guides secured to an elevator shaft wall, an astragal hingedly secured to the lower edge of the upper door section, a locking pin carried by the upper section of the door and engageable with the lower section of the door when the sections are in closed condition with a keeper member hingedly secured to the astragal and engaging the locking pin and preventing hinged movement of the astragal when the door is in closed condition, and with the locking pin being automatically disengaged upon opening movement of the door and permitting hinged movement of the astragal,

ARTHUR W. CROKER. PAUL R. DOEG.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,947 Lindskog June 14, 1892 770,444 Rhodes Sept. 20, 1904 1,145,881 Doyle July 13, 1915 1,152,013 Doren Aug. 31, 1915 1,356,192 Cresci Oct. 19, 1920 1,417,301 Cresci May 23, 1922 1,483,871 Davis Feb. 19, 1924 2,135,131 Bassett Nov. 1, 1938 

